Viasa Pilot Strike Continues Barbara Khol

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12-17-1991 Venezuela: Viasa Pilot Strike Continues Barbara Khol

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Recommended Citation Khol, Barbara. "Venezuela: Viasa Pilot Strike Continues." (1991). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/notisur/7949

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Latin America Digital Beat (LADB) at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in NotiSur by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LADB Article Id: 063543 ISSN: 1060-4189 Venezuela: Viasa Pilot Strike Continues by Barbara Khol Category/Department: General Published: Tuesday, December 17, 1991

On Nov. 24, pilots employed by the Venezolana Internacional de Aviacion (VIASA) airline commenced a strike. The pilots' union demanded a minimum US$3,000 per month salary, a US $2,500 bonus separate from benefits, and per diem payments of US$142. VIASA management offered a scale of salary hikes, with a maximum US$2,300 per month for pilots of DC-10 planes, and a US$94 per diem. (See Chronicle 11/28/91 and 12/05/91 for previous coverage of strike.) On Dec. 10, Tito Lopez, head of the Venezuelan Workers Confederation (CTV), said VIASA management is discussing bankruptcy as a tactic to "fire its 3,500 employees." According to company spokespersons, pilots account for 8% of all airline employees, and receive 21.7% of VIASA's wage bill. If the pilots' demands were met, the latter proportion would increase to 38.5%. VIASA management says that pilots employed by other international airlines receive an average US$80 per diem, compared to the strikers' demand for US$142. Next, company spokespersons reported that the number of VIASA pilots per aircraft is 36, and pilots average 65 hours of flight time on a monthly basis. The top 100 international airlines world-wide average 16 pilots per plane, and average monthly flight time is 80 hours. On Dec. 11, negotiations between the pilots' union and management were underway. Labor Minister Ruben Rodriguez said the government would impose arbitration if the two sides fail to reach an agreement within the next few days. Arbitration under Venezuelan law would require designation of a Labor Ministry official, and one representative each from VIASA management and the pilots' union to convene until the conflict is resolved. (Basic data from Spanish news service EFE, 12/10/91, 12/11/91)

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